Clamp means



Feb. 26, 1952 PAXSQN 2,587,517

CLAMP MEANS Filed March 2, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l IN V EN TOR.

fi/oma Q axsolv A TTOR/VE) H. D. PAXSON Feb. 26, 1952 CLAMP MEANS 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed March 2. 1949 JNVENTOR. HOME? 2 1% x50 BY I - rrow/7 Patented Feb. 26, 1952 sen-517 F iea CLAMP MEAN-S' Home! D: Paxson, Salem; Ohio Application-March 2, 1949;sei-tiallqo. 79,179

9 Claims. (01; 242-78) My invention: relates to clamp means, and more particularly to clamp means for a coiler :reel; Ior sheet-metal stock, and the principal ob- ;jectof myinvention is to provide new and improved apparatus of this character. clamping devices, especially for sheet-mill ,operation and sheet-metal handling, great difli- -Cu1ty has been experienced in: eiiectively and easily clamping the: leading edge of a long strip of: sheet-metal. Heretof ore, this has been accomplished by variousmeans. each of which is costly toamanufacture and maintain, and diflicult era-operateimproved device- ;provides a construction which is easily and economically manufactured, is comp ised of parts which require little or no maintenance, and which. is effective for all practical-purposes. Further, my device is automatically adjustable to accommodate sheets of different gages, and clampsv a light gage metal as ef ec ively esah vi eas m a Referring to the drawings Whichaccompany this specification and form: a part of this appliacation, there is shown, for purposes of illustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume, and in these drawings: Figure ,1 is an end elevation of a coiler reel, rshowingan embodiment of my invention,.

Figure 2 is a broken plan view corresponding generally to the line 2-2 of Figure I, ,Fignre 3 ;i s an enlarged-fragmentary endv elevatiomwith parts;pro-ken away showing the clampine. mea sn o esp s t i;

Figureeds-a viewsimilar to Figure 3, showing sthe clan-1,pine me ns anoth r -p ifi o Figure- -is= a broken longitudinal sectional view corresponding generally to the line 5-5 or i. d.

Fi "re 6 is a ir'agmentary perspective view showinga part of the clamping means.

The clamping means of my invention is herein.. shown' asap'pilied to a coiler reel of somewhat standard construction, al ltliougl'i it'is to be un- .,c lers'tood thatjmy i hventionis not limited to such combination. Referring to the drawings, the reel comprises a longitudinally extending tube '9 of fqiiiredjl lig'th, the'tubebeing' formed with a lkeyway it to receive are; for connection with a Shaft l' A plurality of generally circular plates 12 ,are

secured to the tube 9, as by means of Welding, in

spaced-apart relation and transverse to the tube axis, each plate having a recess I3 opening inwardly from a peripheral surface, as best seen in" Figures" 3 and 4-.

2 A pair of spacer blocks it are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the outer face of each of the outermost plates i2, and a segmental plate 6 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to each pair of spacer blocks I i-"in position to generally span the recess 13 formed in the respective outermost plate 12. a

Each of the segmental plates 5 is formedwith a pair of apertures I! and i8 (see especially Figure 5), respective apertures being disposed in axialqalignmentr A cam shaft L9 extends between segmentalplates 6 through the recess (3, and hasi-te ends jcurnall'ed in bearings [5 disposed within respective apertures l7. Inward ly of each segmental plate Iii, a cam 211' is keyed to the shaft 19 for rotation therewith. One or both ends of the shaft I9 may be formed with means for effecting rotation of the shaft, and in the embodiment shown, one end' of the shaft [9 is formed with a hexagonal socket 2-! for reception of ,asuitable socket wrench.

Journalled' in bearings 22' disposed within the aperture [8' are trunnions 23 secured to opposite ends of an elongated body 24' which extends lengthwise between the segmental plates f6 and through the recesses I3. The body 24' is formed with an inclined surface 25 which meets, in angular manner, a ledge surface 26, the latter term- ;inating. insa ledge 27.

v The E4 is'formed with a plurality of recesses 28 which open into the ledge surface 26, as clearly shown in Figure 6. The axis of each recess 28 is disposed inwardly of the defining edge 29' between inclined surface 25 andledge surface 25:, and is disposedv at an angle to the surface 25. Each of the recesses 28' is generally round in cross-section, and because of the inclination of the recess axis with respect to the surface 25, ,a substantially V-shaped opening 38 is formed in the inclined surface 25 at the upper portion of eachrecess. However, each recess 28 provides more than a semi-circular wall, even at the upper part (as viewed in Figure 6) of each V-Sh'a'ped Ofifilfig" 30'.

Wedge means are associated with the body 24,

and in the embodiment disclosed, such means comprisea hall 3!, formed of steel or th'elike, 'dispcse'd in each of the recesses 28 in such man- 'nerthat' each ball is movable axially of the recess. A portion of each ball 3] extends through a respectivev shapedopening so andloeyond the the respective recess 28, to urge the ball outwardly of the recess. A ball retainer bar 33 is bolted to the ledge surface 26 and spans the recesses 28, to limit outward movement of the balk 3|. A reenforcing plate 34, of substantially the length of the body 24, is welded or otherwise secured to the body to prevent deflection and to provide a counterweight for a purpose later to be described.

Suitably secured to the plates I! as by welding, to'form parts of the exterior surface of the reel, are a pair of segments 35 and 36. adjoining edges of which are spaced apart, as seen in Figures 3 and 4. These adjoining edges have inclined surfaces 31, 38 which diverge with respect to each other in a direction inwardly of the reel. The remainder of the reel surface may be formed by a pair of segments 39 and 48, which, with the segments 35, 36, provide a substantially complete cylindrical reel surface. The segments 39, 48 may be pivoted to the reel plates l2 as at Al, and the plates l2 and segments 39, 40 may be so constructed and arranged as to provide for contraction of the peripheral surface of the reel to permit removal of the coiled stock. Since contraction of the reel forms no part of this invention, it will be appreciated that any other desired construction may be used to accomplish the purpose.

With respect to the clamping means, the parts are shown in clamping position in Figure 3. In this relation of parts, the body 24 has been moved by the cams 2|] through rotation of the shaft l9, so that the series of balls 3| bear against the clamping surface 38 of the segment 38. Referring particularly to Figure 3, it will be seen that the axis of each of the recesses 28 and a plane including the clamping surface 38 meet in an acute angle. Experiments have shown that this angle designated a, for all practical purposes, preferably should be on the order of from to 12 degrees, although it will be understood that this angle may be varied to suit particular requirements.

In the relationship of parts shown in Figure 3, the leading edge L of the sheet-metal may be thrust into the opening between the segments 35, 36 and against the balls 3|. Such action will cause the balls to be moved inwardly of respective recesses 28, against action of respective springs 32.

Because of angle a and because the balls 3| are confined to movement axially of the respective recesses 28, as the balls move inwardly of respective recesses, they are caused to recede from the clamping surface 38, thus providing a gap for receiving the leading edge L of the sheet metal. The gage of the sheet-metal determines the amount the balls are moved inwardly.

Once the" leading edge is positioned in the gap between the balls 3| and the clamping surface 38, this edge may be inserted any desired amount.

It 'will be appreciated that the balls will grip 'the leading edge, ,L at spaced-apart points,

to compensate for any slight unevenness in the metal, and thus insure that clamping action is evenly distributed along the width of the leading edge.

Any withdrawal action of the leading edge is opposed by the wedging action of the balls 3|, and the balls increase their grip in proportion to any force tending to withdraw the leading edge from the clamp means. When it is desired to remove the coiled stock, the shaft I9 may be rotated by a suitable wrench so as to back off the cams 20 to position shown in Figure 4, the weight of the reenforcing plate 34 being so positioned with respect to the center of rotation of the body 24 that opening of clamp means is effected with little effort. The coiled stock may then be removed endwise from the reel in accordance with usual practice, since the parts, in position shown in Figure 4, provide an enlarged gap extending lengthwise of the reel.

When another strip of sheet-metal is to be wound on the reel, the parts of the clamping mechanism are returned to position shown in Figure 3, and the leading edge L of another strip of metal may be inserted into a gap which will be formed, as before described, between the balls 3| and the clamping surface 38 by interposition of such leading edge.

It will be appreciated that each of the balls 3|, with its associated parts, forms a separate clamping means so that a plurality of stnps of steel, such as from a slitting mill, may be wound on the reel, each strip having its leading edge firmly engaged by one or more of the balls 3|. Further, a plurality of strips of different gages may be simultaneously wound on the reel, since the individual ball or groups of-balls engaging respective strips automatically compensate for sheet gage without disturbing the clamping action of adjoining balls.

It is to be noted that the segmental plates It, the means for securing these segmental plates to the plates l2, the recesses l3 and the inclined surfaces 31, 38 are symmetrically disposed about a longitudinal centerline of the reel, so that the clamping means may be readily turned end-for-end, whereby the balls 3| will cooperate with the surface 31 instead of the surface 38 as shown. Thus, the reel may be easily converted for winding rotation in either direction, thereby making the reel adaptable for use with steel mill and steel handling equipment of various designs and of various disposition with respect to factory space. Further, this enables the strip to be wound either from the top or bottom of the reel, the latter winding enabling an operator to inspect both surfaces of the strip as it is wound on the reel.

In prior art reels, because of ineffective clamping mechanism, it is necessary to wind at least one lap of sheet on the reel, to insure against slippage of the sheet with respect to the reel, but the clamp means of my invention so positively clamps the leading edge of the sheet that lapping is eliminated, thus saving time and expense. V

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention, and it also will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment herein described may be variously changed and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not hereinspecifically described, hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiment is illustrative only. and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. Means for clamping material, comprising:

first means providing a clamping surface; -sec means; means for locking said second means in predetermined position relative to said clamping surface, and being releasable so that said second means may be shifted away from said clamping surface; and resilient means for urging said engagement means toward said clamping surface to clamp the material inserted between said clamping surface and said engagement means when said second means is in said predetermined position.

2. Means for clamping material, comprising: a clamping surface; pivoted body means movable toward and away from said clamping surface; locking means for locking said body means in predetermined position relative to said clamping surface, and being releasable so that said body means may be moved away from said clamping surface; wedge means carried by said body means for movement toward and away from said clamp ing surface when said body means is in said predetermined position, movement of said body means in one direction causing said wedge means to recede from said clamping surface to provide a gap into which said material may be inserted; and resilient means for urging said wedge means in an opposite direction to urge said wedge means to approach said clamping surface and clamp the inserted material between said wedge means and said clamping surface.

3. Clamping means for a reel for sheet-metal and the like, comprising: a clamping surface extending generally lengthwise of said reel and formed 'on a portion of said reel; a body extending generally lengthwise of said reel and pivoted for movement toward and away from said clamping surface; cam means for holding said body in predetermined position adjacent to said clamping surface, and being retractable to provide for movement of said body away from said clamping surface; said body having a plurality of pockets spaced-apart lengthwise thereof, each pocket at its outer extremity having an overhanging shoulder, and each pocket being positioned so that its axis forms an acute angle with said clamping surface when said body is in predetermined position; a ball movable axially of each pocket, movement away from said overhanging shoulder causing said ball to recede from said clamping surface to provide a gap into which an edge of said sheet-metal may be inserted, and movement toward said overhanging shoulder causing said ball to approach and clamp the inserted edge between it and said clamping surface; and a coil spring in each pocket for urging the ball toward said overhanging shoulder.

4. A rotatable reel, comprising: reel plates having recesses; reel-surface segment means, providing a pair of clamping surfaces disposed in alignment with said recesses; clamping means extending through said recesses and including means cooperable with one or the other of said clamping surfaces; and means for securing said.

clamping means to said reel plates; said recesses, said clamping surfaces, said clamping means and said securing means being so relatively arranged that said clamping means may be turned end-forend to provide winding rotation of said reel from one direction to another direction.

5. A rotatable reel, comprising: reel-surface segment means, providing a pair of clamping surfaces; and clamping means carried by said reel and adapted to be secured to said reelin 6 one position and also adapted to be turned endfor-end and secured to said reel in another position, said clamping means in said one position being cooperable with only one of said clamping surfaces and in the other position said clamping means being cooperable with only the other of said clamping surfaces.

6. A rotatable reel, comprising: reel-surface segment means providing a longitudinally extending opening, opposite longitudinal margins of which form a pair of clamping surfaces; and clamping means carried by said reel and adapted to be turned end-for-end for securement to said reel in either one of two positions, in one position said clamping means being cooperable with one of said clamping surfaces and in the other position saidf clamping means being cooperable with the other of said clamping surfaces.

7. Clamping means for a reel for sheet-metal and the like, comprising: a clamping surface extending generally lengthwise of said reel; a body extending generally lengthwise of said reel in position adjacent to said clamping surface; a plurality of balls spaced-apart longitudinally of said body, each of said balls being carried by said body for movement at an angle to said clamping surface; and resilient means for urging said balls in a direction toward said clamping surface.

8. Clamping means for sheet-material, comprising: means providing an elongated clamping surface; a plurality of balls disposed in spaced apart relation along said clamping surface and mounted for movement at an angle to said clamping surface; resilient means for urging said balls in a direction toward said clamping surface; and means for retracting said balls from clamping relation with said clamping surface.

9. Material clamping means for a reel, comprising: relatively movable means adapted to form a gap extending generally axially of the reel and opening from a peripheral surface of the reel and into which an 'edge of the material may be inserted and clamped, one of said means comprising an elongated clamping surface and the other of said means comprising a plurality of balls disposed in spaced-apart relation along said clamping surface and mounted for movement at an angle to said clamping surface; resilient means for urging said balls in a direction toward said clamping surface; and means for moving said relatively movable means to retract said balls from clamping relation with said clamping surface and thereby provide for removal of the edge of said material.

HOMER D. PAXSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 225,517 Gilman Mar. 16, 1880 1,237,575 Sundh Aug. 21, 1917 2,066,568 Jones Jan. 5, 1937 2,373,704 Obolensky Apr. 17, 1945 2,390,894 Morse Dec. 11, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1 173,089 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1935 

